Massive brush fire in Brevard fully contained

A video posted to social media shows a helicopter dropping water on a burning structure set alight by a massive brush fire in Melbourne. The fire shut down I-95 for about two and half hours Saturday evening. Uploaded April 7, 2018.
Video courtesy of Carl D. Andren

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Damage to a structure is seen after a large brush fire near I-95 in Melbourne.(Photo: Tim Shortt / FLORIDA TODAY)Buy Photo

Brevard County fire officials say the blaze that briefly shut down Interstate 95 on Saturday is now fully contained after burning through 75 acres.

Authorities also confirmed that the brush fire – one of the largest to happen in Brevard this year – was caused by lightning.

Sunday, the interstate was open while no new flare-ups were reported.

The interstate was shut down at about 5 p.m. Saturday evening after the area was threatened by flames and smoke from a massive brush fire west of I-95 on Jones Road, between Aurora Road and Lake Washington Road in Melbourne.

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As of 9:30 p.m. the fire was 95 percent contained, the Florida Forestry Service said on social media.

Multiple crews from the Melbourne and Palm Bay Fire Departments, along with Brevard County Fire Rescue and the Florida Forestry Service, engaged the blaze. The complement included seven engines, five brush trucks, four bulldozers cutting fire breaks and a helicopter dropping water from the air.

A brush fire in the Lake Washington area of Melbourne spread to some 45 acres.(Photo: BCFR)

A video posted on social media showed massive flames visible above the treetops from a nearby residence. Other videos showed a helicopter extracting water from a lake and dropping it on a burning structure.

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A video posted to social media shows flames from a brush fire in Melbourne visible over the treetops from a nearby home. The brush fire shut down Interstate 95 from Pineda Causeway to Eau Gallie Boulevard Saturday. Video uploaded April 7, 2018.
Courtesy of Sharon Chamberlain

Originally reported at about five acres, dead foliage on the ground allowed the fire to quickly spread, blanketing 45 acres at its peak Saturday. That figure grew to 75 acres as authorities used better mapping to determine the actual size of the area impacted by the fast-moving fire.

Multiple structures were in the projected path of the flames, although crews were gaining ground on the fire and working to keep those structures safe, said Chief Chuck Bogle of the Melbourne Fire Department.

"I just spoke with the Battalion Chief on the scene, and he feels like he has a pretty good handle on it," Bogle said.

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A video sent to FLORIDA TODAY shows the helicopter filling its huge water bucket to dump on the flames of a massive brush fire in Melbourne. The fire shut down Interstate 95 for about two and half hours Saturday evening. Uploaded April 7, 2018.
Video courtesy of Sharon Chamberlain

Officials confirmed at least one structure was affected, a shed or garage on the property of a nearby residence. Other reports suggested multiple structures were compromised but official confirmation is still pending.

The general vicinity of Saturday's brush fire in Melbourne.(Photo: 511)